Khadija bt. Khuwaylid (a)

[صدى المهدي]

Name : Khadija bint-e-Khailad(SA)
Title : Umm-ul-Momineen
Agnomen: Tahira
Father : Khailad bin Asad
Mother : Fatemah bint-e-Zaedeh
Birth : Makkah
Death : 10th Ramazan 3 years before Hijrah at the age of 64 years. Buried : in Makkah

Birth and Geneology

Hazrat Khadija(SA) s the first wife of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf). She s born in Makka. Her father's name s Khuylid bin Asad and he s a wealthy trader.

The Geneology of both Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) and Hazrat Khadija(SA) s the same reaching upto Qusayy.



Early Life

Her mother and father both died within 10 years of each other. Their wealth s divided amongst the children but it s Hazrat khadija(SA) who took over the family business and expanded it. With the profit she made she helped the poor, widows, orphans, sick and the disabled people of Makka.

She had a cousin called Waraqa bin Naufal who s very learned man and who s not an idol worshipper. Both Waraqa and Hazrat Khadija were monothiests and believed in one Allah.

First contact with Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf)

Because of her excellent Akhlaq the Arabs (who at that time used to look down upon women) called her Tahira - the pure one. She s also known as the 'Princess of Makkah' because of her wealth. A lot of Arab nobles and princess nted to marry her but she refused all of them.

In 595 AD, Hazrat Khadija s looking for someone to be in charge of her caravan to Syria. Hazrat Abu Talib(AS) suggested the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) to her. She had heard of his tstworthiness and agreed to employ him although he did not have much trading experience. To help him she sent her slave Maysara.

The trading caravan s a great success and when Hazrat Khadija(SA) heard of the Prophet's skills and excellent conduct, she became his admirer.

Marriage with Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf)

Soon it s arranged for Hazrat Khadija(SA) to be married to the Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf). At that time, Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) s aged 25 and Hazrat Khadija(SA) s 40 years of age.

According to Shiite tradition, this s her first marriage and that she s not a widow as is narrated by non-shiite sources. Hazrat Abu Talib(AS) read the Nikah on behalf of the Prophet whilst Waqara bin Noufal read it for Hazrat Khadija.

Hazrat Abu Talib(AS) paid the mehr for his nephew and fed the people of Makka for 3 days in celebration. Hazrat Khadija too fed the people. The marriage s a very happy one and their first child s a son called Qasim. The second s Abdullah. Both died in infancy. Their third and last child s Hazrat Fatema Zahra(SA).

Her services for Islam

When the Prophet used to go to meditate in the cave of Hira on Jabel-e-Noor, it s Hazrat Khadija(SA) herself who would climb up there to give him his food and necesseries. She s the first person to accept Islam as taught by the Prophet(pbuh&hf).

In 616 AD, the Quraish isolated the Bani Hashim (the family of the Prophet) and they took refuge in a ravine called Shib-e-Abu Talib. Hazrat Khadija(SA) s there too and it s her wealth (which she donated for Islam) that sustained the Muslims at that time. The siege lasted for 3 years during which time they experienced hunger, thirst, and the cold and heat of the desert.

Her Death

Hazrat Khadija(SA) s married to the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) for 25 years. Shed died in 619 AD on the 10th of Rmazan 3 years before the Hijrah. When she died nothing s left of her wealth - all of it s served for the propagation of Islam.

She s buried in Makkah in a cloak of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf). Hazrat Abu Talib(AS) died in this year too. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) called the year Aam-ul-Huzn (the year of grief).

While Hazrat Khadija(SA) lived, the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) did not marry another woman and in later years he alys said that she s the best of his wives.

He also said that she s one of the four perfect women who had ever lived. The other three are Hazrat Aasiya, the wife of Firaun, Hazrat Maryam, the mother of Prophet Isa(AS), and Hazrat Fatima Zahra(s.a.).

من مؤوسسة السبطين العالمية